Steven DeKnight

The "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" alum has inked the network’s first overall deal.

Spartacus creator Steven S. DeKnight has inked a two-year overall deal at Starz. our editor recommends

Under the arrangement, the first deal of its kind at Starz, DeKnight will develop new projects and continue to showrun the swords and sandals drama.

"Steven is a rare talent who we want to stay in business with," said Starz managing director Carmi Zlotnik in announcing the deal.

Added DeKnight, "It is a rare wonderful opportunity to collaborate with an emerging network on forging their identity in scripted programming."

Indeed, DeKnight, who also created the franchise’s prequel Spartacus: God of the Arena, has played an integral role in Starz’s original programming efforts. After a few years spent dabbling with series like Crash and comedy Party Down, the HBO rival turned its focus to larger-scale, more commercial adventure fare in the Spartacus vein.

The strategic shift has paid off: In addition to branding and stateside ratings for the premium cable network, DeKnight’s Spartacus, an action-adventure series set in the Roman gladiator era, plays particularly well internationally.

DeKnight, whose previous TV credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dollhouse and Smallville, is repped by CAA and Jeanne Newman of Hansen Jacobson.